Safe protection



Jan. 20, 1942.

c. R. DAVIS 2,270,274 I SAFE PROTECTION Filed Nov. 19, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INYENTOR. 0/1 5 DOV/6 ids ATTORNEY.

Jan. 20, 1942. I

C. R. DAVIS SAFE PROTECTION Filed NOV. 19, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Jan. 20, 1942 UNITE D STAT ES PAT E'N T OFFICE SAFE PROTECTIONCharles R. Davis, Rochester, N. Y.

Application November 19, 1936, Serial No. 111,670

7 Claims.

My present invention relates to burglar resisting and detecting devicesand more particularly to their embodiment in safes and/orstrong boxes inwhich valuables are stored. In. my companion application, now Patent No.2,203,675, I have disclosed completely such a safe protected by aplurality of instrumentalities resisting and announcingthe attempts ofthieves to remove the safe in its. entirety or attack it to reach itsinterior by any known method. The present invention has for its objectto provide simple and efficientmeans for similarly protecting the doorof the safe as a unit to be used with or without certainfeatures ofthatconstruction. The improvements are directed in part toward protectingthe safe door against drilling therethrough or knocking thecombinationthereof without setting off an alarmor equivalent protectivemeans and to produce similar results if the favorite method of pullingout the spindle of the combination by means of a wheel puller orpunching the spindle through the combination is resorted. to,

and toward arrangements whereby authorized usersof the safe after thecombination has been properly worked will not be able to set off theprotective means by either accident or even intent. To these and otherends, the invention. resides in certain improvements and combinations ofparts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novelfeatures being pointed out in the claims at the end of thisspecification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a steel safe provided with a doorconstructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a much enlarged horizontal section through the safe and doorin the plane of the combination lock taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation on the scale of Fig. 2 of the safe doorpartially broken away and partially in section with an adjacent portionof the safe or strong box wall also shown in fragmentary section, thecover plate of the lock and bolt mechanism of the combination beingremoved to reveal the inner parts;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged rear view in detail of the locking boltelement removed, and

Fig. 5 is a diagram of the circuit arrangements of the alarm system incombination with a semicylindrical physical showing in section of thegeneral safe elements arranged in proper relation thereto.

Similar referen'ce numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

its combination. and locking mechanism, is really a unit in. itself andthe task of protecting it adequately involves a separate problem fromthat of the strong box itself due largely to thepresence of thecombination therein which is perhaps the most favored lavenueof attackby cracksmen.

With my present invention and in the embodiment shown, the mutilationofthe combination, as by knocking off the dial or dial handle with asledge toget at the spindle; cutting the dial off by means of a coldchisel inserted between the dial. and the dialring; displacing thespindle by driving ,orpulling, or drilling through the wall of the dooraround the combination, inevitably resultv in each instance-inclosingthe electrical cirn far asthis invention is concerned, may be consideredto conventionally represent any fire-resisting or protective materialthat is desired. Within'the double wall, however, is a protectivematerial that entirely surrounds the safe body and consists, in thepresent instance, of a copper plate or fine mesh copper screen 4. Thisis thoroughly insulated from the shell and all similarly grounded partsby coverings 5 ofrubber or equivalent material. The safe door, the outershell of which is'indicated at 6 and its inner and rear wall at 1, beingmounted'on the safe or strong box on suitablehinges I0, is similarlyconstructed with a fillings and an inner conducting protecting plate 9insulated in the same way, as clearly appears in Fig. 2.

It isobvious that, because of the necessary displaceability-of the dooron its hinges, plate 9 cannot-be physically joined to plate 4 althoughthis connection would be desirable in the embodiment shown to putboth'plates land 9 on the same positive side of the electrical circuithereinafter explained. The following constructionhas, therefore, beencontrived to effect the latter result.

At the. forward end of the left side wall of the safe body or strongbox, therev is provided a narrow vertical .chamber ll into which themain locking bolts l2 on a crosshead l3 within the door project aswellas do a pair of plungers l4 As above-.intimated the safe it door,including 5 a -m n ed nan insulated crosshead l6 connected with the boltof the combination, as will also be hereinafter described. Plunger I4 ispart of a knife switch or circuit breaker which, when the safe is lockedand the combination idle, cooperates with a knife contact II in thechamber on the positively connected inner protecting plate or screen 4of the safe body to close a circuit at this point. The plunger I4 iselectrically connected on the opposite side of the insulated cross headI6 with a binding post I8 from which leads a wire I9 (Fig. 3) that goesto plate 9, although this connection is not physically shown in Figs. 3or 4. Thus, current supplied to the safe wall plates 4 will be similarlysupplied to the door protective plate 9 while the door is locked, butnot otherwise.

While plunger I4 is thus established as a circuit making and breakingconductor, plunger I on the same crosshead I6 is electrically inert. Itsonly function is, when the door is closed and locked, to close a masterspring switch, indicated generally at 20, also arranged in chamber II,the spring contacts of Which are respectively connected to wires 2I and22 of a main circuit. Therefore, when the safe is unlocked and theplungers I4 and I5 withdrawn, this main circuit goes dead with the breakat switch 20 which automatically opens.

Before fully describing the locking mechanism and its control of theplungers under the control of the combination and before describing whatthe circuits are for, it is convenient to pass to a description of thecombination elements themselves. These consist, primarily, in thepresent instance, of a dial 23 provided with a knob 24 arranged forcooperative reading with a dial ring 25 in much the usual manner. Also,as usual, the dial plate and knob are carried on a spindle 26 whichextends through the safe wall to the controlling and locking mechanism.This spindle is grounded (Fig. 2) to the safe structure by the latterbut it turns in a fiber or other insulating bushing 21 by which thepositively charged protective inner plate or screen 9 is protected fromgrounding at this point. It also protects the dial ring 25 through whichit passes from grounding. The dial ring 25, however, is insulated fromthe shell 6 of the door and from the ground of the safe structure by aninsulated mounting ring 28. The dial plate 23 also turns out ofelectrical contact with it. The two are spaced sufliciently for thispurpose only, but otherwise cooperate as closely as this will allow. Thedial ring is connected to the positive side of the circuit by means ofan insulated binding post 33 on the ring extending into the interior ofthe door and connected by a wire 34 with the binding post I8.

The inner end of the spindle 26 passes through a bridge plate 29 on theinside of the door. It is insulated in its mounting from the ground ofthe general structure and is connected to binding post I8 of plunger I4by a wire 30. This inner end of the spindle passes through such bridgein an enlarged opening without electrical contact. It is provided,however, with outer and inner contact pins 3I and 32 both normallyspaced from the bridge and holding the circuit open. If, however, awheel puller is applied to the knob 24 and the attempt is made to pullthe spindle through, as soon as it moves longitudinally contact pin 32will engage the bridge on the other side of the circuit, and close thesame. Conversely, if it is attempted to punch the spindle, as

with a drift, the same result occurs through pin 3|.

While these constructions and arrangements are fresh in mind, it isthought best to here, and before explaining the energizing of thecircuit, review the mechanical and electrical functions of this doorequipment categorically with reference to the various methods of attackupon the door.

If it is attempted to drill through the door, as in an effort to drillout the combination, as soon as the drill has penetrated to this plate 9and made electrical contact therewith, it completes the circuit on theground of the casing or outer wall 6.

If the dial plate 23 or knob 24 is mutilated by a blow in any direction,it will contact the dial ring 25 on the positive side of the circuit andthereby ground it. If the blow is axially of the spindle, it will makeboth that contact and a contact through pin 3| with the electricallypositive bridge 29 also, and if the knob is removed in any way and thespindle punched, the same thing will occur.

Pulling the dial off will make ground contact with the bridge 29, asjust explained.

As soon as a chisel is inserted between the dial plate and dial ring,the latter is immediately grounded on the dial plate closing the circuiteven before a blow can be struck.

Referring to Fig. 5, I will now explain the complete circuitarrangements, the source of energy and the connection with the alarm.These instrumentalities may be all housed in a similarly protected metalbase 35 upon which the safe rests in accordance with the disclosure ofmy said companion application, but it is to be understood that for thepurposes of this case and this invention the bell 36, conventionallyshown in Fig, 5, represents any inside or outside alarm signal, gasliberation or other medium put to work as a protective device of anynature that is used or can be devised to discourage or trap the personattacking the safe. This protective device or alarm, as we will call itfor convenience, is in the secondary circuit 3'! of a relay 38 andenergized by its own battery B. The relay is obviously employed for thepurpose of establishing a constant circuit through the alarm as a resultof a momentary closing of the circuit through the relay and, in the caseof the bell 36 of this embodiment, the bell will continue ringing for along period after the momentary contact is made in the primary circuitas a result of mutilation.

Referring to this primary circuit and assuming first that the safe wallis being drilled, the connections are as follows: battery A, wire 2|,switch 2%] (closed when the safe is locked), wire 22, relay coil 39,wire 40, plate 4, knife switch I'I, plunger I4, wire I9, door plate 9,through the drill to ground on casing I. From ground, indicated by wires4| and 42, it returns to the negative side of the battery. The relaybeing thus operated, the alarm circuit 31, is, of course, permanentlyclosed until manually released or reset.

In the case of mutilation of the dial, bringing the dial and dial ringin contact, the same circuit at plunger I4 instead of passing throughwire l9, passes through wire 34 to dial ring 25 to dial plate 23 andhence to ground, represented by wire 43 on the casing I.

In case the spindle 26 is diven or pulled longitudinally, the circuit isthe same except that from plunger I4, it branches through wire 30 tobridge 29 to: contact pins! on Hand hence toground represented by wire44.

It is' to be noticed that: the plunger 14, while notinsulateditopreventa normal ground from the casing wall l2and'theshellof the'door throughwhich it passes, nevertheless theregisteringopenings formedtherein forthe plungerplunger l4- w ill'thenbebent and grounded on the walls of'opening -55and the alarms andprotective devicesaset off aswith any oth'ermode of been illustrated inno great detail. Sufiice it to say that the crosshead l3 of the lockingbolts I2 (Fig. 4) has an extension 45 thereon provided with averticalslot 46" anda horizontal slot 41 with anadjacent fia'ngeforminga cam shoulder 48. The bolt handle 49 by which the [leverage is obtainedto throw the bolts either way is provided with a crank pin 5|] engagedin slot 46.

This is the locking bolt mechanism. In horizontal slot 41 engages alimiting guide pin 5| integral with a mounting 52 separating the fireinsulation from the electrical insulation. Latch 53 falls into andengages the cam 54 on the spindle 26 when the proper combination isdialed, and withdraws the bolt 52. The crosshead [6 of the circuitclosing plungers I4 and I5 is mounted on this bolt. When the safe islocked, as in the figures, a shoulder 55 on bolt 52 engages behind camshoulder 48 on extension of the locking bolt crosshead and prevents thebolt handle 49 from withdrawing the locking bolts. When, however, theproper combination is dialed, 'by means of the dial knob and the latch53, the combination bolt 52 is shifted by an extra movement of the dialso that shoulder is separated from extension 45 (which, incidentally,opens the circuit at I! and 20) and the handle 49 may be turned and thelocking bolts withdrawn.

A safe door constructed and equipped in accordance with my invention isso simple that it can be produced at low cost for popularly pricedsafes, yet it is certain in its operation when so intended and is thrownout absolutely when the safe is in daily legitimate use. With the dooropen or closed and the locking bolts drawn or retracted, there is nodanger of a false alarm occurring through the routine actions ofauthorized persons.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a burglar resisting safe, the combination with a strong box, anelectrically actuated protective device associated therewith, a sourceof electrical current supply, and a circuit connect ing the latter withthe protective device, of a displaceable door to said strong box,electrical conducting mediums on said door and said strong saidcircuit-arranged in the box, atcombination lock, and means on the doorand operable by movement of the combination lock for closing said switchonly when the door is closed and said combination lock is moved intopositionto hold the door-in lockedposition, said lock also havingconductorsassociated therewith and out of contact therewith but operatedby mutilation of said' lock before the mutilation is suflicient torender the lockinefiective for also closing'sai'd circuit to saidprotective device. 2. In a-burglar resisting safe, the combination witha strong box, an electrically actuated proit tective deviceassociatedtherewith, a source of electrical current supply, and acircuit connecting the latter with the protective device, ofadisplaceabledoor to said strong box embodying outer and'innerelectrical conductance mediums protecting the door and arranged onopposite sidesof said" circuit, said mediums being adapted to close thecircuit when the door is mutilated as by drilling into the same, boltsmovable for bolting said door to said box, whensaid door is in closedposition, a combination lockon the door for'holding said bolts inbolting position, a circuit breaker in saidcircuit including an elementin the box and a movable element on the door electrically connectedto'the inner conductance medium and controlled by the combination lock,said movable element on the door being adapted to energize the innermedium and to close a circuit only when the-door is closed and thecombination lock turned to locking position, said movable element on thedoor being adapted to close the circuit only when the door is closed andalso looked, and means within said door and operable by mutilation ofsaid combination lock before said mutilation is sufficient to render thelock ineffective, for also closing said circuit to said protectivedevice.

3. In a burglar resisting safe, the combination with a strong box, anelectrically actuated protective device associated therewith a source ofelectrical current supply, and a circuit connecting the latter with theprotective device, of a displaceable door to said strong box embodyingouter and inner spaced electrical conducting mediums protecting the doorand arranged on opposite sides of said circuit, said mediums beingadapted to close the circuit when the door is mutilated as by drillinginto the same, contact means in said circult arranged to be inengagement only When said door is locked to connect said conductingmedium in said door to said circuit, and a master switch in said circuitarranged to be closed only when said door is locked, to preventactuation of said protective device when said door is unlocked.

4. In a burglar resisting safe, the combination with a strong box, anelectrically actuated protective device associated therewith, a sourceof electrical current supply, and a circuit connecting the latter withthe protective device, of a displaceable door to said strong box,electrical conducting mediums on said door and said strong box andconnected to said circuit to close the same when tampered with, a masterswitch in said circuit arranged'in the box, a combination lock having aninsulated dial ring, bolts for said door, means on the door connectedwith said combination lock for opening and closing the switch byactuating said combination look when the door is closed and the boltsare in securing position, whereby when the door is unlocked, the

box andconnectedwtoi said circuit, toiclosezthew same when tamperedwith, a master-switch in circuit to said protective device is open andmeans operable bymutilation' of said lock and effective beforemutilation is sufiicient to release said bolts, for closing said circuitthrough said dial ring to said protective device.

5. In a burglar resisting metal safe, the combination with a strong boxand a door therefor, an electrically actuated protective device for saidsafe, a source of electric current supply, of electrical conductingmediums in said box and said door and insulated from said box and saiddoor, an electrical circuit including said protective device, saidsource of current supply and said medium of said box, a lock for saiddoor, means actuated by said lock for connecting said medium of saiddoor in said circuit when said door is locked and for disconnecting saidmedium of said door with said circuit when said door is unlocked, saidcircuit being completed when the door is locked and a medium isconnected electrically with the metal of said safe, and means withinsaid door and operable by mutilation of said lock before mutilation issufficientto render said lock ineffective, for also closing said circuitto said protective device.

6. In a burglar resisting metal safe, the combination with a strong boxand a door therefor, an electrically actuated protective device for saidsafe, a source of electric current supply, of electrical conductingmediums in said box and said door and insulated from said box and saiddoor, an electrical circuit including said protective device, saidsource of current supply and said medium of said box, a switch in saidcircuit. a lock for said door, and a pair of plungers in said doormovable into and out of said box by the actuation of said lock torespectively lock and unlock said door, one of said plungers actuating aswitch in said circuit to close the same when said plunger is moved intosaid box and the other plunger when moved by said lock into said boxestablishing an electrical connection between said circuit and saidmedium of said door.

7. In a burglar resisting metal safe, the combination with a strong boxand a door therefor, an electrically actuated protective device for saidsafe, a source of electric current supply, of electrical conductingmediums in said box and said door and insulated from said box and .saiddoor, an electrical circuit including said protective device, saidsource of current supply and said medium of said box, a switch in saidcircuit, a bolt for bolting said door in closed relation to said box, alock for locking said bolt in bolting position, means actuated by saidlook when moved into bolt locking position for connecting said mediumsinto said circuit and, when moved into bolt releasing position, to opensaid circuit to prevent actuation of said protective device, wherebysaid door may be opened, closed and bolted while said switch is open,said circuit being completed when said switch is closed and a medium iselectrically connected with another conducting part of said safe, andmeans within said door and operable by mutilation of said look beforemutilation is sufficient to render the lock ineffective, for closingsaid circuit to said protective device.

CHARLES R. DAVIS.

